Device for the installation of steel reenforcement in concrete pavements



May 27, 1930. w. 5. EDGE 1,760,350

DEVICE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF STEEL REENFORCEMENT IN CONCRETEPAVEMEN'IB Filed Dec. 12, 1928 I f a r w w l |JHHHHHHHHI HI PHHHI HHIPHHHH 6 5 F a 1 5 L r i LU 3 h n a n n L C m F U- 4 FigA-Al Q w w 5 6 6i h xii Patented May 27, 1930 1 OFFICE \VAL'IER S. EDGE, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA DEVICE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF STEEL REENFORCEMEN'I INCONCRETE PAVEMENTS Application filed December 12, 1928. Serial No.325,532.

My invention relates particularly to the accurate and economicalinstallation of steel reonforcement of the so-called sheet or mat typein concrete and is particularly adapted to work where a power drivenself propelling concrete mixer is employed.

1 am quite familiar with the methods now in common use for theinstallation of electrically welded wire mesh and barmat reenforceinentand believe that all of them are open to objections of one kind oranother, mainly on account of the labor required for their operation.One method which had a limited use for about seven years employs what istechnically rnown as a sled which consists of several pipes or T ironswith the stems turned up, laid parallel on the subgrade and connectedtogether at their forward ends with a yoke which in turn is connected tothe concrete mixer by chains or cables. The method of operating thedevice is as follows: r

The sheet of mesh reenforcement is laid across the parallel T ironswhich support it in its correct position. The concrete is then depositedand worked through the reenforcemerit and then the supporting sled isdrawn forward by the concrete mixer and the process is repeated. Thismethod has the advantages that the cost is small, the placement isaccurate, and the labor cost very low, but it has the disadvantage thatthe stems of the T irons will either leave an actual void in theconcrete or create a plane of weakness which is as bad. For this reason,it has been prohibited by most State highway departments woo formerlyallowed i s use. In order to retain its advantages and eliminate itsvital weakness, I have developed the apparatus hereinafter described.

The action of the T irons or pipes (of the old device) as they remain inthe concrete is,-

of course, to create a void extending longitudinally but as they aredrawn forward by the concrete mixer they exert an action very similar tothat of a finishing machine working on the surface in that they tend tocompact and consolidate the concrete on either side, thus tending toretain the void already created. The subsequent action of thefinishsibility of creating voids when the supports are moved ahead.

In order that my invention may be more easily described, reference willbe had to the accompanying drawings.

V Figure 1 is a plan drawing showing ashort section of a roadway withthe assembled deice lying on the subgrade ready for the placement ofthesteel reenforcement upon it and the depositing ofthe concrete, part ofthe top of the connecting member being cut away to show connections.

Figure 2 is a partial elevation and section of the same assembly.

Figures 3 and 3 are side and end elevational views respectively of oneof the room forcement supporting bars of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figures 4, 4 and 4 are side elevatioual, plan and end elevational viewsshowing a modification of the structure of Figs. 3 and 3 Figures 5 and 5are side and end elevational views showing another modification.

Figures 6, 6 and 6 are side elevational, plan and end elevational viewsrespectively of another modification.

Figure 7 shows still another modification.

Figure '8shows the details of a skeleton support and brings out themanner in which the vertical and inclined members should be sharpenedand stream lined to reduce the resistance to moving the device and toeliminate the tendency of the support to create a void in the concreteas it is withdrawn, and Fig. 9 is a view taken on the line IXIX of Fig.8.

It will be seen from these drawings that the device consists of severalparallel members 2, which rest on the subgrade and which are connectedat their forward ends to a common cross piece or yoke 3, to which arefastened chains or cables 4, 4 which are in turn connected to theconcrete mixer or. other power. By reference to Figure 6, which Shows anelevation of one longitudinal mem- Ip-l her of the device to a largerscale, it will be I seen to consist of a flat metal plate 6, to whichare attachedskeleton supports 7. 7, 7 shaped like an inverted sledrunner and which are curved down at their forward ends so as to avoidall possibility of fouling the reenforcement. The front and back edgesof the vertical and inclined members are ground oil to present sharpfaces entering and leaving the concrete, see 8. A glance at Figures 4and 6 will show that thee supports are staggered in plan so that thereare no continuous lines of supportin any one vertical plane to cause avoid or weakened plane when it moves forward. This device was developedto be used primarily on highway work, but it may find other applicationswhen suflicient power is present for its operation. The operation of thedevice will now be explained.

Referring to Figure 1., we see the installing device resting on thesubgrade between the road forms l1, the grade having been previouslytrimmed to the exactv cross section required. The chains 4, i areconnected one to either side of the tractor of the concrete mixer. Asheet of. mesh reenforcement is now raid on top of the installer withits edges at the correct distance from the forms, and concrete isdeposited on top of it first at the end farthest away from the mixer andcoin tinuing this process until the entire section is finished. Themixer then moves ahead, drawing the installer with it and the process iscontinued. It is not necessary to make the inst ller as long as thesheet of reenforcement which is being handled because the sheet canextend up onto the chains, for as the device moves ahead it Wlll liftthe sheet of mesh up and hold it at the proper height in the zone whereconcrete is being deposited.

The spacing between the main supporting members 2, Figure 1, will varywith the trans verse stiffness of the reenforcemen For a mesh composedof round elements, it may be much as three feet and for lighter wiremesh it have to be reduced to half that.

The arrangement of the individual supports 5, 7 and 8 on the base 6 willalsova-ry depending upon the type of reenforcement to be used. but ingeneral it will be advisable to use as few supports as possible andspace them as far apart as will give sufficient sup port, therebyreducing he disturbance created in the concrete when the installer iswithdrawn and the loadon the mixer necessary to move it.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified andembodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a device for the installation of steelreenforcementin concrete structures, a supporting member consisting of abase to which are attachedtwo or more supports with their long axesparalleling the base and their tops in approximately the same horizontalplane. 2. As stated in claim 1 said supports being set in staggeredrelationship in plan.

3. As stated in claim 1: said supports having their front and rear edgessharpened.

4-. In a device for the installation of steel reenforcement in concretestructures, a supporting member consisting of a base to which areattached one or more skeleton supports with their long axes parallelingthat of the base and their tops in the same horizontal plane.

5. In a device for the installation of steel reenforcement in concretestructures, a supporting member consisting of a base to which areattached one or more skeleton supports having the front and rear edgesof their vertical and inclined members sharpened, with their long axesparalleling that of the base and their tops in the same horizontalplane.

6. In a device forthe installation of steel reenforcement in concretestructures, a supporting member consisting of a base to which areattached two or more skeleton supports having the front and rear edgesof their vertical and inclined members sharpened with their long axesparallelingthat of the base and their tops in the same horizontal planeeach skeleton support being set in staggered relationship with the onepreceding it.

7. In a device for the installation of steel reenforcement in concretestructures, a supporting member consisting of a base to which areattached one or more skeleton supports with their long axes parallelingthat of the base.

8. A device for the installation of reenforcement in concrete structurescomprising a supporting member adapt-ed to rest upon

